The Puffer Forum

My Schoutedini is my first puffer. I saw this video and this fish's belly is FAR larger than mine when I feed him.

https://wn.com/cute_spotted_congo_puffe ... tedeni)_hd

Should he be gettting this round when I feed? Am I possibly underfeeding, or is this possible overfeeding? What is the right amount?
Even when I finish feeding my guy, his belly is not distended much, even less than the first time you see this puffer going for the tongs. Mine has a rounded belly when done, but it doesn't stick out extra past the overall round shape if that makes sense.

I feed every other day for the most part, although I will occasionally throw a few snails in his tank on a "fasting" night for the other tanks.

Here is my puffer in an "un-fed" state on a fasting night. The end of this video, like a minute in, shows his belly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8VCg5Jv55E

Here's another one, same day, some side views.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VuspRsvy_M

I don't want to starve him, but I don't want to overfeed either. Please help guide me. Thanks!

Feed to a slightly rounded belly. Be sure to skip 1 day/week for fasting.

Would you please do me a favor and look at the video links? First one - confirm he's overstuffed maybe?
And then mine to be sure he doesn't look too thin?

I feel like I've been feeding until slightly rounded belly but again, as my first puffer I don't have a good reference point.

I feed every other day - should I feed daily with only one fasting day per week?

I just want to be doing what's best.

Thanks!

I don't think the 1st puff's belly is large at all. For an active species, I'd feed 2 days on, one off.
I do think yours is so much darker because of the black sand.
<3 those cories!

OK, then if you don't think the first video's puffer is too large I think mine is way too skinny! I will try to up the feedings.

I love the cories too!

No, the 1st puffer looks very healthy & happy.

After feeding last night - better? Not enough?

Thanks for your patience with me.

OMG WHAT A CUTIE!! He looks healthy! Puffers will always act like they're starving even when they just ate. I have a DP who eats every day with 1 or 2 fasting days a week - she looks worringly thin on those fast days but she definitely gets plenty to eat. And boy, does she let me know how hungry she is!! You're probably doing just fine

Thanks! He is a cutie.

I've read a lot about overfeeding puffers so just wanted to be sure I wasn't doing that. Maybe I was going too far in he other direction...

Looks good.

So it is ok/advisable to fast DP 1 or 2 days a week? I had read that they need to be fed every day so have been doing that, but I also do not want to overfeed.

I think it's good for all fish to fast 1-2 days per week, but I don't have any experience with DPs, so take that with a grain of salt.

I have two DPS and I usually end up fasting them a day, weather I want to or not. I will notice the girls will be hard to get to "come to dinner" one random night a week, and take that as they're not that hungry. But the next day they bite at my fingers as I feed them, I call them "hungry kisses". Honestly, the travancoricus are pretty active and can be just fine eating daily. Come to think of it, has anyone ever seen an overweight DP? Can't say I have, yet! Lol

https://youtu.be/1M6XfW6E0W4

This is what mines look like.. =)

Thanks!